The 16 Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums for Glowier Skin in 2024

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the most reliable skin hydrators out there. It’s a type of sugar that your body produces naturally—and it acts as a humectant, which means it attracts and holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water. That’s why it works so well to give your complexion a fuller, glowier, and overall healthier appearance (in fact, it’s often used in lip fillers because its plumping effects are that good).

You can find HA in a bunch of skin care products, including face creams, body lotions, and sunscreens. But using a hyaluronic acid serum is an easy way to add it to your routine—they’re usually lightweight, and lots of formulas are designed with sensitive skin in mind. Plus, with a serum, you can get the HA’s hydrating benefits even if you switch up your moisturizer (or whatever else you put on every day).

Below, find the best hyaluronic acid serums that’ll give you the moisturizing, skin-plumping benefits you’re after. All of our favorites come highly recommended by reviewers, dermatologists, or SELF staffers—some have even won a Healthy Beauty Award.

Our top picks

1. Best Overall: Olay Super Serum
2. Best Budget Pick: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum
3. Best Splurge: Ourself HA+ Replenishing Serum
4. Best Vegan Pick: Ren Everhydrate Marine Moisture-Restore Serum
5. Best for Sensitive Skin: Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum
6. Best for Rosacea: Skin Pharm Youth Serum
7. Best for Travel: RoC Multi Correxion Hyaluronic Acid Night Serum Capsules

FAQs

Best Overall: Olay Super Serum

Pros

• Contains multiple hydrating and smoothing ingredients
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Fragrance may irritate sensitive skin

This 2024 Healthy Beauty Award-winner is beloved for its powerhouse formula, which includes vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and lactic acid (ingredients that work together to brighten, soothe, hydrate, and exfoliate). One tester said: “If I could only have one skin care product on a deserted island, it would be this. First of all, the serum is shimmery pink and has a fun holographic appearance. Because it’s made with a ton of my favorite ingredients, it’s my go-to whenever I travel and can’t bring all of my skin care essentials in a tiny makeup bag.”

Best Budget Pick: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum

Pros

• Under $10
• Fragrance-free

Cons

• Some reviewers say it has a slightly sticky finish

“I love this serum because my skin is dry and I need a hydrating product I can buy over and over without gagging at the price,” says one SELF editor, who has used this simple and affordable formula for six months. “Its consistency is silkier and thicker compared to other hyaluronic acid serums I’ve tried, so it feels more luxurious to massage into my skin than a watery one.” It also packs plenty of soothing vitamin B5, as well as ceramides to strengthen your skin barrier.

Best Splurge: Ourself HA+ Replenishing Serum

Pros

• Contains ingredients that help reduce visible signs of aging
• Fragrance-free

Cons

• Pricey
• Not as easy to combine with other products compared to simpler HA serums

Sorry for the price whiplash—but this serum deserves some commotion, according to one SELF editor: “It’s insanely expensive, but works so well that when I wear it barefaced, people have asked me if I got Botox (I never have) or just came from a facial.” Firming peptides, brightening vitamin C, anti-inflammatory niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid join forces to give that fresh-from-the-spa look and feel. Girl math tells us this is a deal compared to even pricier professional treatments!

Best Vegan Pick: Ren Everhydrate Marine Moisture-Restore Serum

Pros

• Contains glycerin, another great humectant
• Vegan-friendly

Cons

• Added fragrance may irritate folks with sensitive skin

Another SELF editor “absolutely loves” this serum and compares it to a refreshing dip in the ocean for your face: “It’s lightweight, absorbs quickly, doesn’t irritate my super-sensitive skin, and has a really nice, faint oceanic scent.”

Best for Sensitive Skin: Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Pros

• Fragrance-free
• Very simple ingredients list

Cons

• Some reviewers report breaking out after using this

If your skin could really use some TLC, this 2023 Healthy Beauty Award winner is worth a try, according to one of our testers: “Because of my dry, sensitive skin, locking in moisture is important, and this product definitely helped. I was worried I would experience some tingling, since I have eczema on my face, but it didn’t have any negative effects,” they said.

Best for Rosacea: Skin Pharm Youth Serum

Pros

• Absorbs quickly
• Reviewers note it gives a glowy appearance and improves texture

Cons

• On the pricey side

One SELF editor has repurchased this multiple times, even though the price is a little hard to swallow. “This is one of the only serums that actually calms my redness from rosacea while moisturizing my dry, flaky skin during the winter or while I’m using tretinoin,” she says. It’s a true multi-tasker, thanks to other supportive ingredients, like brightening niacinamide and soothing allantoin.

Best for Travel: RoC Multi Correxion Hyaluronic Acid Night Serum Capsules

Pros

• Fragrance-free
• Reviewers note a visible plumping effect

Cons

• Also contains jojoba seed and coconut oils, which can sometimes lead to breakouts if you’re acne-prone

Hear us out: A cute pill organizer that’s actually filled with these biodegradable HA ampules. Each one holds the perfect amount of hyaluronic acid serum for a single application. Joshua Zeichner, MD, associate professor and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, likes these handy twist-off capsules because they’re convenient when you need more space in, say, your gym bag or toiletry case.

While these top-rated serums didn’t get top billing, SELF testers and online reviewers agree that they’re also worthy of a place on your vanity.

Tula 24-7 Ultra Hydration Triple-Hydra Complex Day & Night Serum

Pros

• Has an easy-to-use twist-up pump, so it’s less messy than a dropper
• Contains peptides to smooth wrinkles

Cons

• Some reviewers say it has a sticky consistency

This 2023 Healthy Beauty Award winner stands out to one SELF editor for its thicker texture: “Its gel-like consistency doesn’t absorb as fast as other watery serums, so it’s easier to glide my gua sha tool or Solawave wand over my skin before fully massaging it in,” she says. Hyaluronic and polyglutamic acids team up for a hydrating boost, while squalane gives your skin a plumper appearance.

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Pros

• Oil-free
• Layers easily under other products
• Also contains glycerin

Cons

• Strong added fragrance
• Some reviewers say it has a sticky consistency

While this serum isn’t a true color corrector, it does contain the same anti-inflammatory ingredient (centella asiatica) to soothe your skin, in addition to HA and vitamin B5 for a dose of moisture. “It’s easy to layer and almost instantly gives the skin a glow,” Dr. Gohara says.

Torriden DIVE-IN Low-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Pros

• Fragrance-free
• Spreads easily, so you don’t need a lot of product

Cons

• Some reviewers say it has a sticky finish

Before you dive into a 10-step K-beauty routine, start with this one tried-and-true product. “As someone who loves Korean skin care, I bought this after seeing all the TikTok hype,” one SELF editor says. “My skin always feels dewy and plump after using it morning and night, and the tiniest drop goes a long way for my entire face.”

Graydon Supermoon Serum

Pros

• Contains skin-smoothing bakuchiol

Cons

• Our tester didn’t like the scent

This pick is another multi-hyphenate—it hydrates, resurfaces, and brightens, thanks to a combo of HA, vitamin C from moringa, and bakuchiol (a retinol alternative). “Whenever I want that plump, dewy look, I always use this serum,” said one SELF staffer. “It's on the thicker side, which I personally prefer (especially at night), and it's amazing for the dry, winter months. Because this product also has other ingredients like bakuchiol, I don't need to pair it with anything else and it really minimizes the amount of things I need to use on my face in one night.”

Anua Rice Ceramide 7 Hydrating Barrier Serum

Pros

• Fragrance-free
• Absorbs easily, lightweight feel

Cons

• Some reviewers find the texture slimy

This airy serum delivers “your skin, but better” vibes, per one SELF staffer. “I love this one because it feels SO lightweight, so it's a solid option if you hate the overly sticky, tacky residue of most serums. It's still hydrating and a great base for under makeup,” they say. “It's especially my go-to whenever I overdo it with [harsher products] and need my skin to calm down.”

Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel

Pros

• Thin, watery consistency
• Good for acne-prone skin

Cons

• Pricey

“This [serum] is really great for acne-prone skin, and it’s also the best one for someone who doesn't like the feel of [heavy] products because it almost feels like putting water on your skin,” Dr. Murphy Rose says. Pro tip: No matter how hydrated your skin feels after using this, don’t skip out on moisturizer. “It’s rich in the humectants that will help draw water to the skin, but it doesn’t have ingredients that will help you lock in that moisture,” Dr. Murphy Rose says. That’s where a good night cream comes in.

Cerave Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Pros

• Fragrance-free
• Contains ingredients that support the skin barrier

Cons

• Some Amazon shoppers don’t like the consistency

Several derms we spoke to gave this drugstore serum a shout out. It has a light, gel-cream texture and contains ceramides to support the skin barrier, so it’s doing more than just drawing moisture into the top layers of the skin, Dr. Murphy Rose says.

Naturium Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5%

Pros

• Fragrance-free
• Tackles fine lines
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Some Amazon reviewers have issues with the dropper

This gel-like serum contains multiple sizes of hyaluronic acid molecules: larger ones that’ll make sure the top layers of your face get plenty of hydration, plus smaller ones that’ll penetrate deeper to plump fine lines, Farah Moustafa, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of laser and cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, tells SELF. The formula isn’t a gimmick—just take it from this Amazon customer: “I’ve noticed such a difference in my skin’s texture... it feels smoother and looks JUICY.”

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Pros

• Fragrance-free
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Some reviewers have trouble using the dropper

Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost line is a drugstore staple that’s all about hydration, so of course it includes a great hyaluronic acid serum. Dr. Gohara says it has a lightweight, non-sticky formula that’s great for all skin types. The results: “plump, hydrated skin with a smoother appearance,” she says.

Related:

• 6 Skin Care Mistakes Dermatologists Want You to Stop Making
• The Best Soothing Moisturizers for Psoriasis, According to Dermatologists
• 10 Ultra-Hydrating Cleansers Derms Recommend for Mature Skin

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